Off-season and Youth Tournaments

Local Tournaments

For most beginner and intermediate wrestlers, we recommend to stick to local tournaments.

These events are typically within a 1-hour drive and hosted by the Tri-County Wrestling Association (TCWA), which serves Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties and is supported by USA Wrestling (USAW).

USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling (USAW) is the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States. It provides insurance coverage for athletes at preseason and postseason competitions.

To participate in these activities, every wrestler must have a USAW athlete membership. Normally this membership costs about $70, but parents booster club is providing it at NO COST for all high school athletes who complete the required steps. For youth athletes, talk to your coach.

USA Wrestling Membership

To receive your free USA Wrestling membership:

1. Complete the DPHS Wrestling sign-up form or join the club team.

2. Complete SafeSport Certification (if required).
   
   

SafeSport Certification

All seniors turning 17 by August 31 in the preseason are required to complete USA Wrestling SafeSport training before competing in preseason tournaments. SafeSport promotes a safe and respectful environment and is designed to prevent abuse, misconduct, bullying, and harassment.

Learn how to complete SafeSport training here. 

Sign Up FOr Tournaments

Registration Requirements

• USA Wrestling Membership: Required to compete in TCWA tournaments. See USA Wrestling above for details.

• Self Registration: Athletes must register themselves. Coaches do not register athletes.

• Deadlines:  Registration usually opens about a week before each tournament. Register the night before if possible; late registration may be available but costs more. 

How to Register for Local TCWA Tournaments

1. Create a USA Wrestling Account

   • Go to www.usawmembership.com 

   • New athletes: Create an account and claim your preloaded profile (set up by your coach).

   • Returning athletes: Log in with your existing account.

2. Sign Up for the Tournament

   • In your USA Wrestling account, go to Event Registrations.

   • Search for TCWA events 

     • • The TCWA Fall Schedule lists upcoming tournaments. 

   • Select your tournament, complete the form, and pay the entry fee (usually about $20).

3. Confirm Your Registration

   • Check your USA Wrestling account or email for confirmation.

4. Save Your USA Wrestling Card

• Upload a headshot photo if required.

• Print your USA Wrestling card or save a digital copy to your phone.

• You’ll need to show this card at check-in and weigh-ins.

Competition Details

• Skill Level: Tournaments are organized into divisions based on age and weight, ensuring wrestlers compete against opponents of similar experience and development. 

• Food & Hydration: Bring water and snacks, as tournaments can last several hours. Check the Competition Day page for guidance.

Off Season Logistics

• Rules: Competitions follow USA Wrestling rules.

• Registration: Athletes register individually; coaches do not register athletes.

• Gear: T-shirts and shorts are allowed (no zippers or baggy fabric); team singlets are optional.

• Travel: Athletes are responsible for transportation; carpooling with teammates is encouraged.

• Arrival: Plan to be at the venue 30–45 minutes before check-in closes.

• Check-In & Weigh-Ins: Bring your USA Wrestling card (printed or digital). Spot checks may be done; you must be within 3 lbs of your registered weight. Weight pooling is used to group athletes by similar weight.

• Duration: 

  • Youth: Early morning to late morning

  • High School: Typically morning to early afternoon.
    Logistics

Coaching Support

• DP Wrestling coaching staff plan to have a staff coach at every TCWA tournament to provide advice and guidance.

• Only coaches who have completed USA Wrestling requirements and hold an active membership may coach mat-side.

Sportsmanship

• Always show good sportsmanship, respect opponents, and represent DP Wrestling positively.

• Some tournaments offer medals or awards, but the main focus is gaining experience and improving skills.

What's Next?

Introduction to Wrestling

Your guide to joining the team, team culture, health, competitions, and getting involved. Each section links to a dedicated page covering key topics: 

• 1a. Welcome to DPHS Wrestling - Everything you need to know for the high school team, including how to join, required gear, team policies, and schedules.

• 1b. Welcome to Lab Wrestling - Your guide to the club wrestling program, including how to join, required gear, team policies, and schedules.

• 2. Weight & Health – Focuses on weight classes, weight certification, weight allowance, nutrition, hygiene, and keeping athletes safe. 

• 3. Rules of Wrestling – An overview of the basic objective and rules.

• 4. Preseason – Covers the period from mid-August to early November, including practices, optional club sessions, preseason tournaments, and preparation for the season.

• 5. Competition Overview – Explains the different types of wrestling events, including off-season tournaments, in-season tournaments, and dual meets, with guidance on what to expect and how to participate. 

• 6. Off-Season Tournaments – Guides athletes through optional preseason and postseason tournaments, including USA Wrestling membership, SafeSport requirements, registration, weigh-ins, transportation, and what to expect on competition day.

• 7. Competition Day Guide – Provides detailed guidance for the day of a competition (and the night before), covering what to pack, weigh-ins, warm-ups, food and hydration, sportsmanship, match flow, and post-competition steps.

• 8. Varsity vs Junior Varsity – Explains the structure of the DPHS wrestling program, differences between JV and Varsity, the role of wrestle-offs, and how athletes earn their spot on each team. 

Upcoming topics: 

• Building Community – Booster Club, communication, volunteering, and fundraising.

• Alumni & History – Program highlights and photo archives.

• Long-Term Development – Off-season opportunities and preventing burnout.

No matter where you are in the season, this is the place to start and the place to come back to.